Improved brick-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. P. H. OAPRON'AND J. F. WINKOHELL, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THEMS'ELVES AND T. W. AND H. J. MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED BRICK-MACHINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,847, dated July 31, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it `known that we, E. P. H. GAPRON and JAS. F. WINOHELL, of Springfield, in the county of Clarke and State of Ohio, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, and to the letters of reference 4marked thereon, like letters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use the invention, we will proceed to describe it.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2, va front view, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, views of portions detached; Fig. 10, a bottom plan view.

A represents the frame of the machine, which may be of any desired form and size. Within this frame is located the pug-mill or grinding hopper or tub O, whichI rests upon a bottom, B, as shown in Fig. 1.

Underneath the bottom B are secured two rectangular spouts or tubes, H, (shown more clearly in Fig. 9,) which communicate with the hopper C by openings O through the bottom B. A central shaft, Gr, is placed vertically within the hopper C, having secured to it below the bottom G an eccentric, J, which isl connected by a rod, u, to a lever, m, pivoted at its center, as shown in Fig. 10.

Within each of the tubes H is placed a plunger, B, of such a size and shape as to t the tubes, and these plungers are connected by rodst to the oscillating lever m,whereby, as the eccentric imparts motion to m, the plungers are made to move back and forth in the tubes H.

At each backward movement of either of the plungers the clay is pressed from the hopper G down into the tube H, and as the plunger moves forward the clay is pushed forward out of the front end of the tube H onto an endless rubber belt,`L, which passes around two rollers, f, located directly in front of the mouth of tube H, the upper surface of the belt L being on a level with the bottom of the tube H, as shown in Fig. l. Bythis means the clay is forced through the tubes H in the form of a continuous strip, corresponding in size with the size of the tube, the tubes being of proper depth to produce such a thickness of clay as shall form a brick when properly compressed, the width of the strip of clay being sufficient to be cut into severalin this case three-bricks. I

At the mouth of the tubes H is located a dividing-chamber, D, a front view of which is shown in Fig. 7 vThis chamber is divided into three compartments by vertical partitions, as shown, and in the upper portion of each is located a plate, c, which is so arranged that it can be depressed at its front by a setscrew, r, and thus regulate the thickness of the strip of clay as it is forced through it, the strip of clay being at the same time divided longitudinally by the partitions into three smaller strips, each being of properwidth to form a single brick. y

It will be understood that the plates e, which graduate the size of the openings through which the strips of clay are pressed or forced out, are all rigidly united, so that when one is adjusted all will be, the whole moving together. By this `means We insure making the openings all of one size, and consequently produce strips of uniform thickness. Where the plates e are not thus united, and each one is adjusted separately, it is almost impossible to so adjust them that each of the strips of clay shall be the same thickness, and much time is uselessly spent in the attempt so to do.

As the clay passes through the chamber D it is shoved onto the rubber belt L, which is caused to moved forward with the clay on it until it rests over the bed piece P, at which time the clay ceases to move forward in consequence of the backward movement of the plunger in the tube H, as previously explained.

Directly over the bed l? is located a rectangular metallic box or case, E, as shown in Fig. l. This case is divided by vertical plates or partitions into a series of cells or molds, each of the required size to form a brick, as shown in Fig. 5, which is a bottomplan view of the same. Within each of these boxes or molds is fitted a plunger or follower, F, as shown more in detail in Fig. 4, the single plunger being there represented by F and the mold by E. The face of these followers or plungers is covered with cloth, as represented by z, the cloth being secured by a metal band or strip, y, as shown in Fig. 4. A groove, x, is formed around each plunger F', as shown, and a similar groove is formed on the inside of the box or mold E', as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A hole ismade through the side of the mold to intersect this groove x, and on the outside of the mold is secured a cup, e, for the reception of oil, the oil flowing from the cup e into the groove or, and thus keeping the follower con- Y stantly lubricated and preventing it from cutting or wearing away the inner surface of the mold, which would otherwise become enlarged after a while, and thus vary the size ofthe brick.

Upon a shaft. R, is pivoted a lever, l, the frontend of which is pivoted to the post d', as shown in Fig. 2, and this post d is attached to the side bars, a', by means of a bolt, n', which passes transversely through it and works in slots in the bars a.

The mold-box E is secured by rods b to crossbar la', which is secured to the bottom of bars a', the spiral springs d serving to keep the box E down when not raised by other means, and also to permit the molds to yield if they should 'strike upon a stone or other unyielding substance in their descent, and thus prevent their being broken.

Between the bars a is placed another vertical bar, a, to the lower end of which is secured the plunger F, composed of several separate plungers or followers, F, iitting in the cells of the mold-box. As the rear end of the lever l is raised by the cam-Wheel K on shaft G the front end is depressed, the first result of which Ais to press the box E down upon the clay resting on the rubber belt L directly over the bed P, thereby cutting the clay into bricks of the size of the molds in box E. As the lever continues its movement the post d is forced down until it strikes upon the setscrews o in the head of plunger-stem a, thereby forcing the plungers or followers down into the molds and compressing the clay therein. As the wheel continues to revolve the box E, with the brick therein, is raised up, a board, T, (see Fig. 6,) being shoved under the box to receive the brick. As the plunger continues to rise the pin b strikes against the crossbar 0, thus preventing the plungers from rising any farther, while the box E continues its upward movement, thereby forcing the brick out of the molds upon the board T, the springs d forcing the box E down again in advance of the plunger to cut the next lot of brick.

On each side of the belt L and bed P a sliding frame, h, is arranged, having dogs t' projecting above the surface of the belt, the object of which is to shove the board T, with the brick on it, forward as soon as the brick are forced out of the mold, and before the plunger descends again. This frame 7L is operated by a rod, l, which connects it with the oscillating lever m, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the lever m being operated by the eccentric J, secured to the shaft Gr, a rod, n, serving to connect the lever m to the eccentric J, as shown more clearly in Fig. l0.

In Fig. 2, at the right-hand side, is shown another plan for operating the box E and the plunger F. In this case two levers are used instead of one, and the springs are dispensed with. The arms f and l', attached to the levers 3 and 2, are made of different widths, so that the cam on wheel K shall strike and operate one of them sooner than the other, both when ascending and descending. By having the lever 3 that operates the mold box E commence its downward movement iirst it is made to cut the brick, and the lever 2, then pressing down the plunger F within the box E, presses the brick. Both the box and plunger are then raised together for a short distance, when the outer end of lever 2 strikes against a stop, u, attached to the frame A, as shown in Fig. l, which arrests its movement, and consequently the movement of the plunger F, to which it is attached, while the otherlever, 8, with the box E, continues to rise, thus expelling the brick from the molds, as in the former case.

This last is but a modification of the previous plan for operating the mold and plunger, and it is obvious that other plans may be used for accomplishing the same result, the only requisite being that they should have the movements herein described,.in order to first cut the brick, then press them while in the mold, then raise them with the mold and plunger, and lastly remove them from the molds.

By means of the set-screws o in the head of the stem a the pressure upon the clay in the molds can be adjusted as desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination of the tubes H and plungers B', operated by the oscillating arm m, substantially as shown and described.

2. The division box D, with the adjustable mouthpiece e, as set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement of the endless belts L with the tubes H, for receiving and conveying the strip of clay, as set forth.

4. The combination of the mold-box .E and the followers F, when connected by means of the bolts b and springs d, and otherwise arranged to operate as shown and described.

5. The use of the set-screws o, or their equivalents, when arranged, substantially asy described, for the purpose of adjusting or regulating the pressure on the brick, as set forth.

6. Providing the molds with the groove and oil-cup e', as set forth.

7. The sliding frame h, arranged to operate as described, for the purpose of delivering the brick from the machine, as set forth.

s. The combination f the @am-Wheel K, 1e-

In witness whereof we have hereunto subver l, and the plunger-stems a, a', and d', for scribed our names.

the purpose of giving to the molds E and the followers F the movements herein described.

9. A brick presser or follower having cloth secured to itsface by means of the band y, fitting in a recess formed therein, es shown and described.

E. P. H. GAPRON. JAS. F. WDTGHELL.

4 Witnesses:

JOHN F. OGLEvEE, J. WARREN KEIFER. 

